Minutes - Planning Commission - 09/23/2021

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Commissioner VanScoy stated that the applicant would be permitted to install a four -foot fence with a gate. He asked why a six-foot fence is desired. Ms. Myhers stated that the six-foot fence would provide more privacy from the road and would reduce the noise from Nowthen Boulevard as well. Commissioner Anderson asked the distance from the road to the home. Ms. Myhers replied that her home is about 400 feet from the roadway. Commissioner Anderson commented that he could not see the home from the road. He stated that he did not see how an additional two feet would help because the home is setback too far. Ms. Myhers stated that a lot of the issue is privacy. She commented that with the number of vehicles coming down their driveway, they can then see the items in their yard such as the boat and four wheelers. Senior Planner McGuire Brigl stated that staff has worked a lot with the applicant on different permits. She stated that the Myhers recently purchased the property and in an attempt to clean up the property, removed dead vegetation that previously acted as a buffer and therefore the noise has increased from the road traffic. Ms. Myhers commented that in speaking with the previous owners there was a fence on that side of the lot until 2016 or 2017, but that section was removed by the previous owners. Kevin Myhers, applicant, commented that when drivers are going down Nowthen Boulevard they can see the items that he owns and therefore the additional two feet would block that view and prevent theft attempts. He stated that even though they are 400 feet off Nowthen Boulevard, they are only 100 feet from Alpine. Ms. Myhers stated that they are State licensed contractors and build 100 to 120 decks and porches per year. She stated that as contractors they wanted to follow the proper path to apply for the required fence permit. She stated that they chose to live in Ramsey and their business is based out of Ramsey and are familiar with staff as they pull permits for the decks and porches they construct. She stated that the neighbor to the north would possibly be interested in extending their fence to the north as well in order to create a safer environment for their children. She commented that it was a lot of work to clean up the dead vegetation, as the previous owners stacked brush, which is a fire hazard. She stated that the property looks nicer, but that vegetation removal increased the noise they hear from the road. Motion by Commissioner Walker, seconded by Commissioner Gengler, to close the public hearing. Motion Carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Bauer, Commissioners Walker, Gengler, Anderson, Dunaway, Peters, and VanScoy. Voting No: None. Absent: None. Planning Commission/ September 23, 2021 Page 3 of 14